Breaking His Callous Heart (Part 1 of 3)

1: First Glance

Ayder Filan.

Papunta pa lang sa airport ay inumpisahan na niyang mag-research tungkol sa binata.

Kaga-graduate pala nito ng Business Management. Nagsabay pala sila. Sa Yale University nga lang siya samantalang ang binata ay sa paaralan din ng kapatid niya. After graduation, he already managed his father's hotel and restaurants chain. They are of the same age.

Guwapo nga ito. Medyo singkitin, manipis ang mga labi at sobrang tangos ng ilong pero walang appeal sa kanya. He couldn't even pass as a Hollywood star.

She closed her macbook when the plane was about to take off. Pinag-isipan niya ng maigi kung ano ang dapat gawin bago binuo ang plano sa utak.

***

"Ms. Seran, this way please."

Her insides were shaking as she stepped inside the general manager's office floor. May reception desk sa harap ng sliding door. Bago roon ay hile-hilerang cubicles ng customer service representatives na nag-aasist sa bookings ng Hotels at Restaurants. There were about a hundred employees. Iba pa ang nasa loob ng offices palibot sa floor area.

Pagpasok ng General Manager's Office ay mayroon na namang limang cubicles. The entire office is fully carpeted and airconditioned. Apat lang na empleyado ang nandoon na kasalukuyang nakaharap sa kani-kaniyang monitor.

"This will be your work table," turo ng HR officer sa bakanteng cubicle. Kasalukuyan siyang binibigyan ng orientation bilang admin assistant sa VLF Empire. She would have wanted to be Ayder Filan's secretary, but the post isn't available.

Pagkatapos nitong ipakilala ang apat na nasa cubicles, naglakad naman sila papunta sa isa pang reception desk bago ang mismong opisina ng General Manager. Ipinakilala ng HR Officer ang sekretarya. She didn't expect her to be a middle-aged woman. Her name is Marlene. Akala niya kapag executive secretary, bata, maganda at sexy, pero iba ito dahil doble yata ng edad niya. She looked pleasant though. Mukha ring sinsero ang pagngiti nito sa kanya.

Itinuro rin ng HR officer ang separate pantry at washroom nila sa loob. She went on orienting her about the company. Hindi na niya pinapakinggan ang pinagsasabi nito dahil busy na ang mga mata niya na gumagala sa loob ng opisina.

May isa pang glass door sa pinakang gitna pero hindi na nakikita ang loob ng opisina. Nang mapansin ng kausap na doon siya nakatingin ay sinabi nitong doon ang opisina ni Ayder Filan, the youngest general manager in the company. She was wondering if that asshole was inside.

She pretended to be listening eagerly but her mind speaks of boredom. Laking pasalamat niya nang matapos ang babae sa pagsasalita. She will be having a three-day training before formally starting. Saktong sa unang lunes siya ng buwan mag-uumpisa

Paalis na sila nang masulyapan niyang bumukas ang sliding door. She felt like everything turned slow motion when a man stepped out. Matangkad ito at sakto lang ang pangangatawan. He wasn't that super macho type, but he wasn't skinny either. Manipis at mapula ang mga labi, pino at matangos ang ilong. His eyes were brown and he had a perfect set of eyebrows. He's so manly in every sense of the word, physically.

She discreetly swallowed. She must admit he was way more handsome in person than in pictures, but her blood is boiling at the sight of him. He was the reason why her sister almost died.

For a fraction of second their eyes met, but the man walked towards the secretary's desk.

"Nay Marlene," wika nito sa sekretarya sabay abot ng folder. She didn't expect his baritone voice would sound so manly, too. He didn't sound like a 23-year old young man. Kaya yata na-inlove ng todo ang kapatid niya rito. BUT he is still a beast for breaking Aira's heart.

She averted her gaze when she realized she was gaping at him. Hindi naman siya muling tinapunan ng tingin ng binata.

Ngumiti siya nang masulyapang bumaling ang tingin ng binata sa kanila ng HR officer bagama't hindi sa kanya nakatuon ng diretso ang pansin nito. Ginandahan talaga niya ang suot para makuha ang atensyon ng binata. She was wearing a red tight skirt exposing her long legs and white fitted top na pinatungan niya ng nakabukas na black coat. It exposed her sexy waist and full bust.

She tried to stay calm and reminded herself that she has to hide her anger when he stepped a bit closer to them. She could smell his expensive perfume.

"Tell this new employee to stop staring if she wants this job. Hindi ako pumapatol sa mga empleyado ng kumpanya," saad ng binata. His tone was cold and reprimanding. Pakiramdam niya ay nagpanting ang tainga niya sa narinig. She knew he was referring to her. Tumalikod ito at walang lingon-likod na naglakad pabalik ng opisina.

Namula ang mukha niya, gustong-gusto niya itong habulin at barahin pero pinigilan niya ang sarili. He wasn't even her type. How dare he say that? Ipinarinig pa sa kanya. He may look and sound mature but he still acts immaturely.

The HR looked at her apologetically.

"Huwag kang matakot. He may have a cold-hearted reputation but he has been fair to all employees like his dad. Kaya halos wala kaming adjustments na ginawa noong naging general manager namin siya," wika nito. Ngumiti siya ng tipid.

"Relax, okay?" the HR added.

"Salamat ma'am," sambit niya. Ngumiti naman ito at tumango ng marahan. The woman was nice. Ganoong HR officer ang gusto niya. She will remember to pirate her in their company.

Her family owns an online carpooling business. May lima rin silang carshop. Ayaw nga sana niya ang ganoong business pero wala siyang magagawa kundi pamahalaan muna iyon ng pansamantala. She wants to sell their car shop dahil hindi naman niya hilig ang mga kotse pero saka na lang niya iyon sasabihin sa ina kapag okay na ang kapatid niya.

***

Wala siya sa mood pag-uwi ng bahay kaya tinawagan niya ang dalawang pinsan na kasalukuyang nasa bansa para mag-dinner sa bahay nila. Kat and Shane didn't know what happened to her younger sister. Inilihim kasi nila iyong mag-ina sa lahat ng mga kamag-anak nila. Sinabi niyang nagbakasyon ang ina at kapatid nang tanungin ng mga ito ang dalawa.

Their plan was to stay home for the night, but they got bored so they went out. Party-goer din kasi ang mga ito.

Tatlo silang magkakaharap sa table at umiinom nang may lumapit sa kanila. Nakilala kasi ng isa si Shane. Naging kaklase raw nito noong highschool. Dahil hindi naman bastos ang approach ng mga ito, pinaunlakan na lang nila. Nang mag-aya ang mga itong sumayaw ay hindi siya sumama. She doesn't feel like dancing.

She only chilled on her seat while scrolling her phone. Makalipas ang ilang minuto napansin niyang hindi pa bumabalik ang mga pinsan niya kaya agad na hinanap ng mga mata niya. The two were nowhere to be found including the two men dancing with them. Nailing na lang siya. She already understood what was happening.

Iginala pa niyang muli ang paningin pero wala na talaga ang dalawa. She drank on her glass. She'll just have to leave by herself as usual.

Tatayo na sana siya nang may nagbaba ng wine glass sa lamesa. She wasn't able to speak when she saw Ayder Filan standing. He was smirking at her. Naka-coat pa ito. The first three buttons of his long-sleeved polo were unbuttoned and his hair was disheveled. He looked so manly.

"Iniwan ka na ng mga kasama mo. How do you plan to pay for that?" he said looking at the empty bottles and glasses on the table.

Her forehead creased. Was he insulting her? Mukha ba siyang walang pera? She would have answered him sourly if she didn't remember her disguise. Isa nga pala siyang hamak na office assistant sa paningin nito.

Sasagot na sana siya pero tinawag na nito ang isang waiter at iniabot ang debit card.

"Charge everything to me," he instructed. Did he just pay for the bill? For real?

Napatingala siya rito. Namula siya nang ngumisi ito sa kanya. She felt like the world turned slow motion when he opened his mouth to speak. Paano pala kung may hihingiin itong kapalit sa binayarang bill? She must not forget who exactly this man is. He has no conscience.

"You're welcome," he uttered with a smirk. He turned away leaving her speechless.